NTR Kousuke

Chapter 131: White Day Return Gift

3/14. About a week after the graduation ceremony, White Day arrives.

I already put return gifts for some of the obligatory chocolates in their desks, so today I need to hand out three.

This morning at club practice it's Airi-senpai, then after going home I'll give one to Nozomi in the evening, and then Nagase-san, who's going out this afternoon.

Looks like it's going to be a busy day.

I tell my family I'll be coming home in the evening and leave the house.

Mama knows I'm busy today with White Day since I shared some Valentine's Day chocolate, so she's grinning at me.

Mom: "Kousuke, good luck!"

"...Don't say stuff like that."

Even though I'm already terrified of girls...

☆ ☆ ☆

Basketball club practice is as usual.

Since the current captain's era, we're encouraged to set goals during long breaks.

I've been working with Airi-senpai on the theme of physical transformation and becoming an offensive point guard, so I'm continuing that.

Airi-senpai understands my fear of girls, so she keeps a comfortable distance, but during practice she's strict.

...But through little gestures or glances, I can tell she worries about me and that there are reasons for her approach, so I trust her.

Today again, she pointed out some sloppy parts from fatigue, and while watching videos of my form, taught me how to improve and fix the details.

We both look at her phone together, discussing this and that.

...Senpai says,

Airi: "Just keep visualizing the person you want to become and keep repeating those drills! But never overdo it! Promise your big sister, okay?"

The comical way Airi-senpai holds up her index finger is adorable.

Even though she's older than me, sometimes she tries to act like a big sister...

Airi: "Jeez! Kousuke-kun! If you're feeling so energetic, maybe I should double your shooting practice?"

"...Please have mercy."

Airi-senpai really pays attention and gives me exactly the right amount of practice—just at the edge.

The limit, where it's just about too much, is all calculated scientific training, not just gut it out.

...And that load is really intense.

Sometimes she gets the amount wrong,

Airi: "Kousuke-kun! Kousuke-kun, stop! You're overworking! I got greedy! Sorry!"

When that happens, she stops me.

I'm grateful for that.

By the way, Sahori hasn't shown up since the send-off for the senpais the other day.

...Really, he doesn't need to come anymore.

Since that incident, Airi-senpai has been back to her old self.

She seemed to have a hard time accepting Sahori's STD, and is now obviously keeping her distance—which is probably a good thing.

Because of that,

First-Year Manager: "Disinfect the balls! Disinfect the floor! Everything gets cleaned!"

Second-Year Manager: "Contaminants must be sanitized!!"

After the send-off party, we had to completely clean everything, and it was tougher than practice.

That Fairy of Dark History really causes nothing but trouble.

☆ ☆ ☆

Since it's White Day today, the three of us also gave a joint return gift to the female managers who gave us chocolate together.

Koji apparently gave individual gifts to each manager.

...I'm impressed at how thoughtful he is.

...Especially since he got Black Thunder chocolate from Ninomiya-san and gave her a branded handkerchief in return—I thought that was a bit much, but he looked like he was about to cry because he didn't know how to give it to her, so I told him to ask Nagase-san to pass it along.

I also prepared a return gift for Airi-senpai, since she gave me something individually...

I can't find the right timing to give it, so I'll do it after practice.

With that in mind, I throw myself into practice.

After practice, we mop the balls and floor, and by then it's almost noon.

Brutal. The post-practice cleanup is always the most annoying and exhausting.

And finally, with the time I have left, I give Airi-senpai her present.

...She mentioned before in a casual chat that she likes pudding.

So I got her a gourmet pudding assortment set and a set of hand towels.

I gave her a hand cream set before, but since she does a lot of laundry and cooking as a manager, her hands take a lot of abuse, so I went with a related gift this time.

Airi: "Huh? You're giving me two? A hand towel set and... pudding! I love pudding! Thank you! I'm still using the hand cream you gave me before, you know?"

"...Well, I got two things too—chocolate and protein? Thank you for everything, Airi-senpai."

Airi-senpai narrows her eyes in delight,

Airi: "Oh, come on! You're so thoughtful for your big sister! But I'm happy, thank you♪"

"...I wanted to see you smile, Airi-senpai."

After staring blankly for a moment, Airi-senpai turns bright red and starts playfully hitting me,

Airi: "Seriously! For a little brother, you sure know how to make your big sister's heart skip a beat! ...Are you a flirt?!"

"...No, I'm not a flirt at all. ...But I want you to know I'm grateful."

Airi-senpai is grinning from ear to ear now,

Airi: "Oh, that reminds me—just the other day, I met your best friend Sho-kun!"

*Around February, as seen in today's main story↓

"...Yeah, you mentioned that, last month?"

Airi: "That's right! Sho is his boyfriend! ...Different topic, but he thanked me, you know? Ahh. I want to eat Sho's curry again soon (monotone)."

I give a wry smile,

"Well, want to go sometime?"

Airi: "Spring break would be great♪ If it's spring break, I'll have time♪"

"...Let's set a date next time."

"Ufufu! Sorry for hinting so much♪"

With Airi-senpai in such a good mood, we promised to go to Sho's curry place together during spring break.

...Maybe if Sho got coached by Airi-senpai he'd get better at basketball, too.

Airi-senpai was full of praise for Sho's little brother Hii-chan's cuteness and Nozomi's beauty.

Hii-chan is an angel, Nozomi is a wild beast, you know?

Hearing about Nozomi made Airi-senpai's eyes go wide.

Airi: "Kousuke-kun... you have both a big sister and a little sister?!"

For some reason, she was surprised.

Big sister? Little sister?

I only have an older brother, though.

Lately, Airi-senpai keeps insisting she's my "big sister,"

and Nozomi keeps insisting, "I'm not your little sister!"

...Women are so complicated...